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WHY DOES GOD PERMIT WICKEDNESS & SUFFERING? (Part 1)

By Arthur Zulu

“WHY”. That three letter word is so common when disasters strike. It is final question when war or natural disasters happen. Or when epidemics exact their toll on humans. Or when a rapist, or robber goes on rampage. Or perhaps when children are abused by persons who are supposed to be their custodians, or when a loved one drops dead.

Sometimes though “WHY” is elongated to “WHY GOD WHY” That suggests person acknowledges that God allows evil. If so, why does he permit wickedness and suffering?

If we say we are not victims of wickedness and suffering, then we are deceiving ourselves. For have we not lost someone in death? Or are we ourselves sure we will be around to shoot fireworks at end of next one hundred years? Perhaps not.

Man through ages have resigned to inevitability of misery and death. A sample of following quotations will shed more light on this matter.

“For suff’rance is badge of all our tribe”. -- Shakespeare.

“The belief in a supernatural source of evil is not necessary; men alone are quite capable of every wickedness.” -- Joseph Conrad.

“Account ye no man happy till he die.” -- Euripides.

“Out out brief candle/Life’s but a walking shadow”. -- Shakespeare.

“Vice increases, and men grow daily more and more wicked.”-- Berkley.

“To each his suff’ring: all are men/Condemn’d alike to groan…. “ -- Gray.

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WHY DOES GOD PERMIT WICKEDNESS & SUFFERING? (Part 6) By Arthur Zulu

“Where was God when Twin Towers collapsed?” “Where was God when Israeli military tanks rumbled through Palestine?” If you have asked such questions, you will now have understood cause of wickedness and suffering in this world: It was because our first parents sought independence from God. And remember that God did not know that things will be this way. And remember also that man has no right to challenge God, his Creator.

Yet, some doubters continue to use “D” word, “Design”. Now, ask yourself this question: If it was God’s plan for us to suffer and die, why did he send his son, Jesus Christ from heaven to die a shameful death in order to save mankind from sin of Adam? Yes, why? Does this not prove that he is a loving father?

But looking at this matter closely: Who is it that causes wickedness and suffering in this world?

Although, Bible says that Satan Devil is ruler of this world, you must know that not all evils are caused by him. Why?

Most wickedness and suffering are caused by man. It was not God that flew airplanes that destroyed Twin Towers. It was man. It was not God that drove tanks into refugee camps in Palestine. It was man.

Also, God is not man who rapes his six-year-old daughter, nor is he robber that breaks into peaceful homes, nor is he church priest that abuses children. Nor is he student turned gunman who runs amuck shooting and killing his teachers and fellow students. Yet when these bad things happen, we blame God!

The fact is that man’s heart -- his thoughts and desires, is evil most of times. It has been so from beginning --since Adam’s rebellion.

Another cause of wickedness and suffering are factors beyond man’s control. Some of these events include war which causes starvation, not to talk of problems of refugees; and diseases cause of underdevelopment and death.

Also consider natural factors like flooding, earthquakes, hurricanes and volcanic eruptions. Which man has control over these? Yet, these are other causes of suffering to mankind.

So, what has been proved over millenniums? That man cannot rule himself. That independence from God means woes to man. That God is only Universal Sovereign -- He has legal right to rule mankind.